MANAGEMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA

A total of 303 infants with esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophagea l fistula were treated over 10 years (1980-1989). The overall survival rate was 86.5%. Associated anomalies were identified in 51.8% of pati ents, the most common being cardiac malformations which affected 24.4% of infants and was responsible for the majority of deaths. The dramat ic increase in survival of infants with esophageal atresia in the past half century is due to improvements in pre- and postoperative managem ent, meticulous operative technique to reduce anastomotic complication s, and aggressive treatment of associated congenital anomalies.